Restoring Papaw's 70 Ambassador

[70Ambo21V7]

The Bootmakers Ambassador (one of them). Papaw was a cowboy boot maker, know to some as Bootmaker. Was an honor that Ken Hand remembered him at last years GRiT Rally. He rode Moto Guzzis because Mamaw said Harley's were for hippies. Anyway, when my family started liquidating his belongings after he passed I asked to buy the "red Guzzi" with my fingers crossed this one didn't have a side car. Turns out it didn't, and I was given the bike. Always wanted motorcycle but this one wasn't going anywhere under it's own power as it had been setting 20+ years.




Tore it down, sandblasted and painted the frame, had the chrome redone, and started buying parts. That was pre pandemic.




Progress was slow during the pandemic as I started cleaning other projects out the garage and waiting for the buffer polisher to arrive (lots of aluminum on this bike). Fast forward to November 2025...just to show there's been progress. I'll come back and fill in stories and details as I get the opportunity and notion to do so.

[Dave Swanson]

I am looking forward to your renewed efforts!  Good going so far!

[Turin]

Nice!

[70Ambo21V7]

Here's the cleaned up dash and speedo. Joe's Speedometer did a beautiful job. The dash was in too bad of shape to polish, if that's even possible. Took a lot of work to make it look nice in paint but I think it turned out well.
I got the nut for the ignition switch from Antietam Classic Cycle via Wild Guzzi, the switch cover came from eBay, a Bosch peice similar to the original.





Bike was in really sad shape to start so not going for a full restoration, just want to build a nice bike. The red paint was done by my Papaw and his friend, it will stay at least until all the bugs are worked out.

[Dave Swanson]

Although I heartily approve of painting the dash since it goes well with the bike, after studying the picture of your dash it certainly looks as though it was a good candidate for polishing. 

I do love how it turned out in paint.